AAV

Recording studio in Melbourne, Australia. "AAV" stands for "Armstrong Audio/Video", so please use this entry where either (or a variation thereof) is used on a release. Variations include: - A.A.V. - A.A.V. Pty. Ltd. - A.A.V. Studio 2 - AAV Australia Pty. Ltd. - AAV-Australia Pty. Ltd. - A.A.V. Studios, Melbourne It appears in this form from 1974, until some time in the 1980s. Through its history it has also been named: - "The studios of Bill Armstrong Pty. Ltd.", "Bill Armstrong Studios" or "Bill Armstrong's Studios" (particularly early in its history). Where the studio is shown this way, or has any variation with "Bill Armstrong" in the title, please use Bill Armstrong Studios. - "Armstrong Studios", "Armstrongs Studios", or "Armstrong's Studios". Where the studio is shown this way, or has any variation without "Bill", "Audio/Video", or "AAV" in the title, please use Armstrong Studios. The studio most commonly appears this way from the mid 1970s on, though this form can also appear on releases earlier. Founded by Bill Armstrong (6) in 1965, and commonly known at that time as Bill Armstrong Studios (or variations thereof), the studio was located over a number of properties in Albert Rd, South Melbourne, moving to a warehouse in Bank St, Melbourne, in 1972. The studio was renamed in 1974 to Armstrong Audio/Video when it was bought by the Age Newspaper Group. It seems this was shortened to just AAV (or variations thereof), and over this period of the studio's history, the latter seems to be the most common form of the name. At some point afterwards (probably in the 1980s), the studio was renamed Metropolis Audio, and also purchased by a staff consortium (headed by Ern Rose). A controlling share was then bought by the Celtex audiovisual company in 2005, but after Celtex got into financial difficulties, the studio closed in 2006. In 1995, Edensound mastering studio had moved from RBX Studios to the control room of Studio 1 in Metropolis Audio. Following the closure of the latter studio, Edensound's directors Martin Pullan and David Drew took over Metropolis Audio's lease and returned the studio's name to Armstrong Studios. The studio moved in 2013 to new premises at Abbotsford, Melbourne. It appears that the studio is now defunct, though the film production company DDP Studios is now located at the old Bank St address, and Doug Brady Music is now located at the old Abbotsford address. (Note, however, that the Doug Brady Music discography suggests that it was operating at the Abbotsford address prior to the move of Armstrong Studios to that location; see for instance [r5162917]).